In 1815, the Ardbeg distillery was founded by John McDougall on the Isle of Islay and in 2015, Ardbeg Perpetuum was released in celebration of their 200th anniversary.
A fantastic full-bodied Islay single malt, rich in coastal peat, smoked meat and well-rounded vanilla notes, using a blend of whiskies both young and old, matured in both bourbon and Sherry casks and the result is an Ardbeg whisky lovers will be sure to love.
In celebration, here’s to the first 200 years and to the next 200 years too!
Colour: Deep Amber.
Aroma: Mellow, rich and enticing with the unmistakable Ardbeggian combination of tar, soot and pine resin. This combination then leads into dark chocolate, treacle toffee, coffee grinds with nutty oaky notes.
Aroma with water: Just a hint of water enables a burst of fresh, briny sea-spray to present intself with a hint of salt, linseed oil, and finally some more of the classic Ardbeg pine resin/ lime top note.
Mouthfeel: Creamy and mouth-coating, slightly chewy.
Taste: Intense, robust peat smoke, savoury smoky bacon, cinnamon and nutmeg but then there's not forgetting an incredible creamy, sweet vanilla/milk chocolate note, which soothes the palate.
If you think dry doesnt work on a nose, then try this for size: the sugars hide in every corner while the smoke has a distinctly peatish quality; mouth-watering for all the nose's qualities. Unusually the malt and peat appear to be working at different levels, so the barley, unencumbered by smoke, is clearly visible; that duel-planed personality continues, with the sugars showing even greater autonomy; what a beautifully structured malt. There is no escaping the youth of some of the phrases. But you cant help enjoying what it says. 47.4%
- Jim Murray
Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2016
The World's Leading Whisky Guide